EAST PEORIA — Stressing the importance of keeping their heads up and eyes off the ground, a crew of safety instructors guided motorcycle-cops-to-be around an obstacle course of orange cones Tuesday.

The temporary training ground on the Illinois Central College east campus parking lot played host for the first time to a group of trainers from Northwestern University’s Center for Public Safety (NUCPS) — and their truckload of Harley-Davidson motorcycles.

“We haven’t had it here before, and in our area, the number of motorcycles in departments is growing,” said Tazewell County Chief Deputy Jeff Lower.

A total of 16 officers from the Peoria area and as far away as the Chicago suburbs and Kentucky enrolled in the 80-hour training course. Four more officers were participating as part of a 120-hour course to become motorcycle operation instructors.

The basic training focuses on low-speed maneuverability, evasive techniques and high-speed braking skills with an emphasis on hands-on learning in a variety of conditions. That meant operating the bikes Tuesday on a sea of black asphalt when the heat index approached 100 degrees.

During the low-speed maneuverability training in the morning, NUCPS trainer Joe Langenbacker stressed the importance of operators keeping their eyes off the ground as they wended through staggered orange cones.

“As soon as you look down, that’s where the motorcycle is going,” Langenbacker said.

Operators who complete the course will earn a certificate, though that may not be the end of their training before hitting the road on a police motorcycle. Many departments require additional hours with a field training officer.

Lower said he wanted to bring the training course to the Peoria area after he completed it, because of the additional skills it provided him after decades of experience on a bike.

“We hear it all the time,” said NUCPS trainer Rick Humphreys. “They tell us, ‘Before I took this training, I was a crash waiting to happen.’”

Matt Buedel can be reached at 686-3154 or mbuedel@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @JournoBuedel.